India & UK Sign Deal To Power Future Navy Ships With Electric Propulsion

India has signed a deal with the UK to collaborate on designing and developing electric propulsion systems for future warships.

The agreement, known as the Statement of Intent (SoI), was signed on November 28, 2024, in Portsmouth, UK, during the third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership.

The deal was signed by Rajeev Prakash, Joint Secretary (Naval Systems) from India’s Ministry of Defence, and Rear Admiral Steve McCarthy, Director of Ships Operations & Capability Integration from the UK Ministry of Defence.

Under the agreement, the two countries will work together on the design, creation, and production of electric propulsion systems for India’s upcoming naval ships. The first project under this deal is the development of Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) to be built at Indian shipyards.

These ships will be among the first in the Indian Navy to feature full electric propulsion systems. This technology is expected to improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of naval operations.

The deal could also pave the way for Rolls-Royce MT-30 gas turbines to be used in Indian warships.

These turbines, already in use by the UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, are known for their power and efficiency and could potentially power India’s future destroyers, frigates, and other naval vessels.

The collaboration is also seen as a way to reduce India’s reliance on foreign-made engines. Currently, the Indian Navy uses propulsion systems from the US, Russia, and Ukraine in many of its ships.

The UK’s advanced propulsion technology could soon replace these, providing the Indian Navy with more locally sourced and cutting-edge solutions.

The agreement comes just days after Catherine West, the British Minister for Indo-Pacific, visited India, further strengthening the defence ties between the two nations.

References: PIB, Business Standard

Source: Maritime Shipping News